Editing Hans Zimmer (section)

== Career ==
{{See also|Hans Zimmer discography}}

=== 1977–1988 ===
Zimmer began his career playing keyboards and synthesizers in the 1970s, with the band Krakatoa.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130110063533/http://www.myspace.com/krakatoa1975/photos/3604500 Krakatoa at Myspace Music] . Zimmer is second from right. Retrieved 18 September 2012.</ref> He worked with [[the Buggles]], a [[New wave music|new wave]] band formed in London in 1977 with [[Trevor Horn]], [[Geoff Downes]] and [[Bruce Woolley]]. Zimmer can be seen briefly in the Buggles' music video for the 1979 song "[[Video Killed the Radio Star]]".<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.debidoss.co.uk/profile.swf
|title=DebiDoss
|access-date=11 September 2009
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722192200/http://www.debidoss.co.uk/profile.swf
|archive-date=22 July 2011
}}</ref> After working with the Buggles, he started to work for the Italian group [[Krisma]], a [[New wave music|new wave]] band formed in 1976 with [[Maurizio Arcieri]] and Christina Moser. He was a featured synthesist for Krisma's third album, ''Cathode Mamma''. He has also worked with the band [[Helden (band)|Helden]] (with [[Warren Cann]] from [[Ultravox]]).<ref name="Hans Zimmer biography" /> 

In 1984, both Zimmer (on keyboards) and Cann (on drums), were invited to be part of the Spanish group [[Mecano]] for a live performance in Segovia (Spain). Two songs from this concert were included in the ''[[Mecano: En Concierto]]'' album released in 1985 only in Spain. In 1985, he contributed to the [[Shriekback]] album ''[[Oil and Gold]]''.<ref>Sound: Dialogue, Music, and Effects. Edited by Kathryn Kalinak, Rutgers University Press, 1 May 2015, Ch.5, p.120. {{ISBN|978-0-8135-6428-9}}</ref> In 1980, Zimmer co-produced a single, "[[The History of the World (Part 1)|History of the World, Part 1]]", with, and for, UK punk band [[The Damned (band)|The Damned]], which was also included on their 1980 LP release, ''[[The Black Album (The Damned album)|The Black Album]]'', and carried the description of his efforts as "Over-Produced by Hans Zimmer."

While living in London, Zimmer wrote advertising jingles for Air-Edel Associates.<ref name="Hans Zimmer biography">{{cite web
|url = http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Zimmer,_Hans/Biography/
|title = Hans Zimmer biography
|publisher = Starpulse.com
|access-date = 10 June 2009
|archive-date = 18 March 2009
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090318142803/http://www.starpulse.com/Music/Zimmer,_Hans/Biography/
|url-status = live
}}</ref> In the 1980s, Zimmer partnered with [[Stanley Myers]], a prolific film composer who wrote the scores for over sixty films. Zimmer and Myers co–founded the London–based Lillie Yard recording studio. Together, Myers and Zimmer worked on fusing the traditional orchestral sound with electronic instruments.<ref name="Biography: Hans Zimmer">{{cite web
| url = http://www.hans-zimmer.com/index.php?rub=bio
| title = Biography
| publisher = Hans Zimmer
| access-date = 10 June 2009
| archive-date = 13 September 2017
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170913061845/http://www.hans-zimmer.com/index.php?rub=bio
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Some of the films on which Zimmer and Myers worked are ''[[Moonlighting (film)|Moonlighting]]'' (1982), ''[[Success Is the Best Revenge]]'' (1984), ''[[Insignificance (film)|Insignificance]]'' (1985), and ''[[My Beautiful Laundrette]]'' (1985). Zimmer's first solo score was ''[[Terminal Exposure]]'' for director [[Nico Mastorakis]] in 1987, for which he also wrote the songs. Zimmer acted as score producer for the 1987 film ''[[The Last Emperor]]'', which won the [[Academy Award for Best Music (Scoring)|Academy Award for Best Original Score]].<ref name="Hans Zimmer biography" />

One of Zimmer's most durable works from his time in the United Kingdom was the theme song for the television game show ''[[Going for Gold]]'', which he composed with Sandy McClelland in 1987. In an interview with the [[BBC]], Zimmer said: "''Going for Gold'' was a lot of fun. It's the sort of stuff you do when you don't have a career yet. God, I just felt so lucky because this thing paid my rent for the longest time."<ref name="Gold">{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7526033.stm
|title=Talking Shop: Hans Zimmer
|publisher=BBC
|date=28 July 2008
|access-date=11 September 2009
|archive-date=9 March 2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309100920/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7526033.stm
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

=== 1988–2000 ===
A turning point in Zimmer's career occurred with the 1988 film ''[[Rain Man]]''.<ref name="Biography: Hans Zimmer" /> [[Hollywood, Los Angeles, California|Hollywood]] director [[Barry Levinson]] was looking for someone to score ''Rain Man'', and his wife heard the soundtrack CD of the [[Internal resistance to apartheid|anti-apartheid]] drama ''[[A World Apart (1988 film)|A World Apart]]'', for which Zimmer had composed the music. Levinson was impressed by Zimmer's work and hired him to score ''Rain Man''.<ref name="rain">{{cite news
 |url          = https://variety.com/2008/film/awards/ascap-workshop-day-13-1117990043/
 |title        = Zimmer and Howard discuss remote collaboration
 |work         = Variety
 |date         = 4 August 2008
|access-date   = 11 September 2009
|first        = D.R.
 |last         = Stewart
 |archive-date = 5 February 2009
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20090205021906/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990043.html?categoryId=3179&cs=1
 |url-status   = live
}}</ref> In the score, Zimmer uses synthesizers, mostly a [[Fairlight CMI]], mixed with [[Steelpan|steel drums]]. Zimmer explained that "It was a [[road movie]], and road movies usually have jangly guitars or a bunch of strings. I kept thinking don't be bigger than the characters. Try to keep it contained. The Raymond character doesn't actually know where he is. The world is so different to him. He might as well be on Mars. So, why don't we just invent our own world music for a world that doesn't really exist?"<ref name="ew.com">{{cite news
| last = Young
| first = John
| url = https://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20216261,00.html
| title = 2008 Interview with Entertainment Weekly
| publisher = Ew.com
| date = 5 August 2008
| access-date = 10 June 2009
| archive-date = 9 March 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090309180419/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20216261,00.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Zimmer's score for ''Rain Man'' was nominated for an [[Academy Award]] in 1989, and the film won four Academy Awards including [[Academy Award for Best Picture|Best Picture]].<ref name="oscars">{{cite web
| url = http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/oscarlegacy/bestpictures/
| title = Best Picture Winners
| publisher = [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]]
| access-date = 11 September 2009
| archive-date = 13 January 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100113071937/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/oscarlegacy/bestpictures/
| url-status = live
}}</ref>

A year after ''Rain Man'', Zimmer was asked to compose the score for [[Bruce Beresford]]'s ''[[Driving Miss Daisy]]'' which, like ''Rain Man'', won an Academy Award for Best Picture. ''Driving Miss Daisy'''s instrumentation consisted entirely of synthesizers and [[Sampler (musical instrument)|samplers]], played by Zimmer. According to an interview with ''[[Sound on Sound]]'' magazine in 2002, the piano sounds heard within the score come from the [[Roland Corporation|Roland]] MKS–20, a rackmount synthesizer. Zimmer joked: "It didn't sound anything like a piano, but it behaved like a piano."<ref name="sos">{{cite magazine
 |url          = https://www.soundonsound.com/people/media-adventures
 |title        = Media Adventures
 |magazine     = [[Sound on Sound]]
 |date         = October 2002
 |access-date   = 11 September 2009
|first        = Mark
 |last         = Wherry
 |archive-date = 20 April 2019
|archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20190420165730/https://www.soundonsound.com/people/media-adventures
 |url-status   = live
}}</ref>

{{Quote box|width=30%|align=right|quote="I listen to [Zimmer's] music and I don't even have to shut my eyes. I can see the pictures. And that's why, in many respects, I know I can talk pictures with Hans. He responds to pictures." |source=—[[Ridley Scott]], director and producer and frequent collaborator with Zimmer.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jonathan|last=Heaf|title=Hans Zimmer: orchestral manoeuvres in the dark|url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/hans-zimmer-interview-dunkirk|work=[[GQ]]|date=16 June 2017|access-date=13 March 2019|archive-date=10 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410175603/https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/hans-zimmer-interview-dunkirk|url-status=live}}</ref>}}
The soundtrack to [[Ridley Scott]]'s 1991 film ''[[Thelma & Louise]]'' by Zimmer featured the trademark [[slide guitar]] performance by [[Pete Haycock]] on the "Thunderbird" theme in the film. As a teenager, Zimmer was a fan of Haycock, and their collaboration on film scores includes ''[[K2 (film)|K2]]'' and ''[[Drop Zone (film)|Drop Zone]]''.<ref name="haycock">{{cite magazine
| url = https://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20216261_2,00.html
| title = Hans Zimmer Reflects on 15 of His Memorable Film Scores
| magazine = Entertainment Weekly
| access-date = 11 September 2009
| archive-date = 26 December 2014
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141226094109/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20216261_2,00.html
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>
Zimmer wrote the theme for [[Tony Scott]]'s 1993 film ''[[True Romance]]'', which he based on [[Carl Orff]]'s ''[[Gassenhauer]]''. ''Gassenhauer'' had previously been used in the 1973 film ''[[Badlands (film)|Badlands]]'', which had a similar story of a young man and a girl on the run following a violent crime.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Sherman|first1=Dale|title=Quentin Tarantino FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Original Reservoir Dog|date=2015|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation|isbn=978-1-4950-2596-9|page=80|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hqy8CQAAQBAJ&pg=PT80|access-date=21 November 2017|archive-date=4 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104220130/https://books.google.com/books?id=Hqy8CQAAQBAJ&pg=PT80&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> The catchy theme, played on nine [[marimba]]s, contrasts starkly with the violence of the film.<ref>{{cite book|last1=MacDonald|first1=Laurence E.|title=The Invisible Art of Film Music: A Comprehensive History|date=2013|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-8398-7|page=382|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e0NYYHWtz6sC&pg=PA382|access-date=21 November 2017|archive-date=4 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104220148/https://books.google.com/books?id=e0NYYHWtz6sC&pg=PA382&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref>

For the 1992 film ''[[The Power of One (film)|The Power of One]]'', Zimmer travelled to Africa in order to use African choirs and drums in the recording of the score. On the strength of this work, [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Walt Disney Feature Animation]] approached Zimmer to compose the score for the 1994 film ''[[The Lion King]]''. This was to be his first score for an animated film. Zimmer said that he had wanted to go to South Africa to record parts of the soundtrack, but was unable to visit the country as he had a police record there "for doing 'subversive' movies" after his work on ''The Power of One''. Disney studio bosses expressed fears that Zimmer would be killed if he went to South Africa, so the recording of the choirs was organised during a visit by [[Lebo M]].<ref name="lion">{{cite magazine
| url = https://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20216261_4,00.html
| title = Hans Zimmer Reflects on 15 of His Memorable Film Scores
| magazine = Entertainment Weekly
| access-date = 11 September 2009
| archive-date = 9 February 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100209093501/http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20216261_4,00.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Zimmer won numerous awards for his work on ''The Lion King'', including an [[Academy Award]] for [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]], a [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]], and two [[Grammy]]s. In 1997, the score was adapted into a [[The Lion King (musical)|Broadway musical version]] which won the [[Tony Award]] for Best Musical in 1998.<ref name="musical">{{cite web
| url = http://www.lionking.org/musical/
| title = The Lion King: The Broadway Musical
| access-date = 11 September 2009
| archive-date = 5 February 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090205171055/http://www.lionking.org/musical/
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name="tony">{{cite news
| url = http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9806/08/tonys.cnn/index.html
| title = Women, 'Lion King' rule at 1998 Tonys
| publisher = CNN
| date = 6 August 1998
| access-date = 11 September 2009
| archive-date = 22 April 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090422221324/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9806/08/tonys.cnn/index.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
{{As of|2012|April}}, the musical version of ''The Lion King'' is the highest grossing Broadway show of all time, having grossed $853.8 million.<ref name="lion_king_gross">{{cite news
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/apr/10/lion-king-broadway-highest-grossing-show
| title = Lion King rules Broadway as highest grossing show of all time
| work = The Guardian
| date = 10 April 2012
| access-date = 11 April 2012
| first = Matt
| last = Trueman
| location = London
| archive-date = 7 October 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131007065308/http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/apr/10/lion-king-broadway-highest-grossing-show
| url-status = live
}}</ref>

Zimmer's score for [[Tony Scott]]'s 1995 film ''[[Crimson Tide (film)|Crimson Tide]]'' won a Grammy Award for the main theme, which makes heavy use of synthesizers in place of traditional orchestral instruments. For ''[[The Thin Red Line (1998 film)|The Thin Red Line]]'' (1998), Zimmer said that the director [[Terrence Malick]] wanted the music before he started filming, so he recorded six and a half hours of music.<ref name="ew.com" /> Zimmer's next project was ''[[The Prince of Egypt]]'' (1998), which was produced by [[DreamWorks Animation]]. He introduced [[Ofra Haza]], an Israeli Yemenite singer, to the directors, and they thought she was so beautiful that they designed one of the characters in the film to look like her.<ref name="ew.com" />

Zimmer's [[The Thin Red Line (soundtrack)|score for the]] 1998 film ''[[The Thin Red Line (1998 film)|The Thin Red Line]]'' is regarded as one of his most important works. The nine-minute cue at the climax of the film, "The Journey to the Line", uses a recurring theme based on four chords, combined with a "ticking clock" [[Motif (music)|motif]] that has been featured in a range of subsequent scores composed by Zimmer.<ref>{{cite web|first=H Perry|last=Horton|url=https://filmschoolrejects.com/time-keeps-slippin-metronomic-rhythm-composer-hans-zimmer/|title=Time keeps on slippin': The metronomic rhythm of Hans Zimmer|date=29 August 2017|access-date=9 August 2018|archive-date=10 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810041928/https://filmschoolrejects.com/time-keeps-slippin-metronomic-rhythm-composer-hans-zimmer/|url-status=live}}</ref> The piece has been used in numerous trailers and video games, and has earned the nickname "the forbidden cue" due to the tendency of film makers to use it as a [[temp track]] for dramatic scenes.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jesse|last=Kinos-Goodin|url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/blog/how-hans-zimmer-s-the-thin-red-line-score-redefined-hollywood-for-better-or-worse-1.4474661|title=How Hans Zimmer's the Thin Red Line score redefined Hollywood, for better or worse|work=CBC|date=5 January 2018|access-date=9 August 2018|archive-date=25 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825003945/https://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/blog/how-hans-zimmer-s-the-thin-red-line-score-redefined-hollywood-for-better-or-worse-1.4474661|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2000–2012 ===
[[File:Hans Zimmer crop.jpg|thumb|Zimmer at ''[[The Dark Knight]]'' premiere in 2008]]

In the 2000s, Zimmer composed scores for Hollywood blockbuster films including three Ridley Scott films, ''[[Gladiator (2000 film)|Gladiator]]'' (2000), ''[[Black Hawk Down (film)|Black Hawk Down]]'' and ''[[Hannibal (2001 film)|Hannibal]]'' (2001), followed by ''[[The Last Samurai]]'' (2003), ''[[Madagascar (2005 film)|Madagascar]]'' (2005), ''[[The Da Vinci Code (film)|The Da Vinci Code]]'' (2006), ''[[The Simpsons Movie]]'' (2007), ''[[Kung Fu Panda (film)|Kung Fu Panda]]'' (2008), which he co-composed with [[John Powell (film composer)|John Powell]], ''[[Angels & Demons (film)|Angels & Demons]]'' (2009), and ''[[Sherlock Holmes (2009 film)|Sherlock Holmes]]'' (2009). Other work in the 2000s included the Spanish language film ''Casi Divas'',<ref name="casi">{{cite web
| url = http://makingof.com/filming_now/media/casi-divas/scoring-session-with-hans-zimmer-on-casi-divas/92/307
| title = Scoring Session with Hans Zimmer (video)
| access-date = 13 September 2009
| archive-date = 30 August 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090830142253/http://makingof.com/filming_now/media/casi-divas/scoring-session-with-hans-zimmer-on-casi-divas/92/307
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> and ''[[The Burning Plain]]'' (2009). He composed the theme for the television boxing series ''[[The Contender (TV series)|The Contender]]'' and worked with [[Lorne Balfe]] on the music for ''[[Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2]]'', which was his first video game project.<ref name="callduty">{{cite news
| url = https://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE57R0HL20090828
| title = Composer Hans Zimmer game for "Call of Duty"
| work = Reuters
| date = 27 August 2009
| access-date = 13 September 2009
| archive-date = 31 August 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090831114603/https://www.reuters.com/article/musicNews/idUSTRE57R0HL20090828
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Zimmer also collaborated with composers [[Borislav Slavov]] and Tilman Sillescu to create the score for the video game ''[[Crysis 2]]''.<ref name="crysis2">{{cite web
| url = http://www.mycrysis.com/news/crysis_2/legendary-composer-hans-zimmer-works-on-crysis-2
| title = Legendary composer Hans Zimmer works on Crysis 2
| date = 16 March 2011
| access-date = 17 March 2011
| url-status=dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110320193953/http://www.mycrysis.com/news/crysis_2/legendary-composer-hans-zimmer-works-on-crysis-2
| archive-date = 20 March 2011
| df = dmy-all
}}</ref>

In October 2000, Zimmer performed live in concert for the first time with an orchestra and choir at the 27th Annual Flanders International Film Festival in [[Ghent]].<ref name="concert">{{cite web
| url = http://www.soundtrack.net/features/article/?id=74
| title = Hans Zimmer on...
| publisher = [[SoundtrackNet|Soundtrack.net]]
| date = 27 June 2001
| access-date = 12 September 2009
| archive-date = 1 February 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090201150726/http://soundtrack.net/features/article/?id=74
| url-status = live
}}</ref> While writing the score for ''The Last Samurai'', Zimmer felt that his knowledge of [[Music of Japan|Japanese music]] was extremely limited. He began doing extensive research, but the more he studied, the less he felt he knew. Zimmer took what he had written to Japan for feedback and was shocked when he was asked how he knew so much about Japanese music.<ref name="ew.com" />

During the scoring of ''The Last Samurai'' in early 2003, Zimmer was approached by the producer [[Jerry Bruckheimer]], with whom he had worked previously on ''[[Crimson Tide (film)|Crimson Tide]]'', ''[[Days of Thunder]]'', ''[[The Rock (film)|The Rock]],'' and ''[[Pearl Harbor (film)|Pearl Harbor]]''. Bruckheimer had finished shooting ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl]]'' but was unhappy with the music composed for the film by [[Alan Silvestri]] and wanted a replacement score.<ref name="bruckheimer">{{cite web
| url = http://www.soundtrack.net/news/article/?id=455
| title = Badelt and Zimmer to replace Silvestri on Pirates
| access-date = 12 September 2009
| archive-date = 1 February 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090201152332/http://soundtrack.net/news/article/?id=455
| url-status = live
}}</ref> 

Bruckheimer wanted Zimmer to rescore the film, but due to his commitments on ''The Last Samurai'', the task of composing and supervising music for ''Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl'' was given to [[Klaus Badelt]], one of Zimmer's colleagues at [[Media Ventures]]. Zimmer provided some themes that were used in the film, although he is not credited on screen.<ref name="interview">{{cite web
| url = http://www.soundtrack.net/features/article/?id=205
| title = Breaking the Rules – interview with Hans Zimmer
| publisher = Soundtrack.net
| date = September 2006
| access-date = 12 September 2009
| archive-date = 1 February 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090201151556/http://soundtrack.net/features/article/?id=205
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name="wsj_interview">{{cite news
| url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703775704576162250644951060
| title = The Maestro in the 'Batcave'
| author = Binkley, Christina
| newspaper = The Wall Street Journal
| date = 25 February 2011
| access-date = 27 February 2011
| archive-date = 26 December 2014
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141226145151/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703775704576162250644951060
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Zimmer was hired as the composer for the three subsequent films in the series, ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest]]'' (2006), ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End]]'' (2007), and ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides]]'' (2011), collaborating with [[Rodrigo y Gabriela]] for the last.<ref name="tides">{{cite news
| url = http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/heard/zimmer-and-rodrigo-y-gabriela-score-one-for-johnny-depp.html
| title = Zimmer And Rodrigo Y Gabriela Score One For Johnny Depp
| publisher = Yahoo! Music
| date = 26 May 2011
| access-date = 15 May 2012
| first = Nicole
| last = Cifani
| archive-date = 11 October 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121011065240/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/heard/zimmer-and-rodrigo-y-gabriela-score-one-for-johnny-depp.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref>

Zimmer is noted for his work on the scores of [[Christopher Nolan]]'s ''[[Batman Begins]]'' (2005) and ''[[The Dark Knight]]'' (2008), which he co-composed with [[James Newton Howard]].<ref name="Gold" /> For the [[The Dark Knight (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] of ''The Dark Knight'', Zimmer decided to represent the villain of [[Joker (comics)|the Joker]] by a single note played on the cello by his long-time colleague [[Martin Tillman]]. Zimmer said: "I wanted to write something people would truly hate."<ref name="joker">{{cite news
| url = https://www.wired.com/underwire/2008/12/creepy-joker-mu/
| title = Creepy Joker Music Explained on Dark Knight DVD
| work = Wired.com
| date = 9 December 2008
| access-date = 1 October 2012
| first = Hugh
| last = Hart
| archive-date = 30 September 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120930040240/http://www.wired.com/underwire/2008/12/creepy-joker-mu/
| url-status = live
}}</ref> The scores for these films were disqualified from receiving [[Academy Award]] nominations for Best Original Score due to too many composers being listed on the cue sheet.<ref name="academy">{{cite news
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/nov/13/dark-knight-score-oscars
| title = Dark Knight score disqualified from Oscar race
| newspaper = The Guardian
| date = 13 November 2008
| access-date = 12 September 2009
| location = London
| first = Ben
| last = Child
| archive-date = 19 December 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131219050131/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2008/nov/13/dark-knight-score-oscars
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Zimmer succeeded in reversing the decision not to nominate ''The Dark Knight'' in December 2008, arguing that the process of creating a modern film score was collaborative and that it was important to credit a range of people who had played a part in its production.<ref name="academy decision">{{cite news
| url = http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2008/12/hans-zimmer-to.html
| title = Hans Zimmer to academy: I'm no liar!
| newspaper = Los Angeles Times
| date = 8 December 2008
| access-date = 12 September 2009
| archive-date = 16 January 2017
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170116075912/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2008/12/hans-zimmer-to.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Zimmer explained his approach to scoring with other musicians in an interview with ''[[SoundtrackNet|Soundtrack.net]]'' in 2006:

<blockquote>Originally I had this idea that it should be possible to create some kind of community around this kind of work, and I think by muddying the titles – not having "you are the composer, you are the arranger, you are the orchestrator" – it just sort of helped us to work more collaboratively. It wasn't that important to me that I had "score by Hans Zimmer" and took sole credit on these things. It's like ''Gladiator'': I gave [[Lisa Gerrard]] the co-credit because, even though she didn't write the main theme, her presence and contributions were very influential. She was more than just a soloist, and this is why I have such a problem with specific credits.<ref name="gerrard">{{cite web
| url = http://www.soundtrack.net/features/article/?id=210
| title = Breaking the Rules – interview with Hans Zimmer
| publisher = [[SoundtrackNet|Soundtrack.net]]
| date = 11 February 2006
| access-date = 12 September 2009
| archive-date = 7 February 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120207200522/http://www.soundtrack.net/features/article/?id=210
| url-status = live
}}</ref></blockquote>

For the 2009 film ''[[Sherlock Holmes (2009 film)|Sherlock Holmes]]'', '' [[Variety (magazine)|Daily Variety]]'' reported that Zimmer purchased an out-of-tune piano for 200 dollars and used it throughout the scoring process because of its "quirkiness".<ref name="D'Alessandrob">D'Alessandro, Anthony. "Hans Zimmer, "Sherlock Holmes, "It's Complicated." ''Daily Variety'' 305.50 (2009): A4</ref> For the 2011 sequel, ''[[Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows]]'', Zimmer and director [[Guy Ritchie]] incorporated authentic [[Romani people|Romani]] music, which they researched by visiting Slovakia, Italy, and France. The music in the film is played by Romani musicians.<ref name="collider">{{cite web
| url = https://collider.com/hans-zimmer-sherlock-holmes-2-dark-knight-rises-interview/132193/
| title = Breaking the Rules – interview with Hans Zimmer
| publisher = Collider.com
| date = 13 December 2011
| access-date = 9 July 2012
| archive-date = 9 July 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120709024529/http://collider.com/hans-zimmer-sherlock-holmes-2-dark-knight-rises-interview/132193
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name="billboard">{{cite web
| url = http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/tv-film/hans-zimmer-uses-sherlock-holmes-soundtrack-1005650562.story
| title = Hans Zimmer Uses 'Sherlock Holmes' Soundtrack to Expose Slovakian Villager Musicians
| author = Gallo, Phil
| publisher = Billboard.biz
| date = 9 December 2011
| access-date = 9 July 2012
| archive-date = 4 July 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120704050005/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/tv-film/hans-zimmer-uses-sherlock-holmes-soundtrack-1005650562.story
| url-status = live
}}</ref>

For the 2010 film ''[[Inception]]'', Zimmer used electronic manipulation of the song "[[Non, je ne regrette rien]]". The horn sound in the score, described by Zimmer as "like huge foghorns over a city" became a popular feature in [[Trailer (promotion)|film trailers]]. "It's funny how that sort of thing becomes part of the [[zeitgeist]]", he said. "But I suppose that's exactly what trailers are looking for: something iconic, lasts less than a second, and shakes the seats in the theater."<ref name="horn">{{cite news
| url = http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/28/hans-zimmer-extracts-the-secrets-of-the-inception-score/
| title = Hans Zimmer Extracts the Secrets of the 'Inception' Score
| access-date = 13 September 2013
| work = The New York Times
| first = Dave
| last = Itzkoff
| date = 28 July 2010
| archive-date = 6 December 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131206221106/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/28/hans-zimmer-extracts-the-secrets-of-the-inception-score/
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name="horn_2">{{cite news
| url = https://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/03/showbiz/tv/hans-zimmer-the-bible/
| title = Hans Zimmer reflects on scoring 'The Bible'
| access-date = 13 September 2013
| work=CNN
| date=3 April 2013}}</ref>

In 2012, Zimmer composed and produced the music for the [[84th Academy Awards]] with [[Pharrell Williams]] of [[The Neptunes]].<ref name="84th academy awards">{{cite news
| url = https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-feb-24-la-ca-oscars-music-20120224-story.html
| title = The Oscars: Hans Zimmer and Pharrell Williams know the score for the telecast – they wrote it
| work = Los Angeles Times
| date = 24 February 2012
| access-date = 6 March 2012
| first = August
| last = Brown
| archive-date = 27 February 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120227063103/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/feb/24/entertainment/la-ca-oscars-music-20120224
| url-status = live
}}</ref> He also composed a new version of the theme music for ''[[ABC World News]]''.<ref name="abc">{{cite news
| url = https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/01/abc-world-news-new-theme-graphics_n_1930483.html
| title = 'ABC World News' Debuting New Logo, Theme, Graphics (PHOTOS)
| work = Huffington Post
| date = 2 October 2012
| access-date = 8 October 2012
| first = Jack
| last = Mirkinson
| archive-date = 6 October 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121006055551/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/01/abc-world-news-new-theme-graphics_n_1930483.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Zimmer composed the score for ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]'', the final instalment of Christopher Nolan's [[Batman in film|''The Dark Knight'' Trilogy]]. The film was released in July 2012.<ref name="dark_knight_rises">{{cite web
 |url         = http://splashpage.mtv.com/2011/01/18/hans-zimmer-dark-knight-rises-score/
 |title       = Hans Zimmer Says 'The Dark Knight Rises' Score Will 'Invent And Reinvent'
 |publisher   = MTV
 |date        = 18 January 2011
|access-date  = 3 May 2011
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110503063753/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2011/01/18/hans-zimmer-dark-knight-rises-score/
 |archive-date = 3 May 2011
|df          = dmy-all
}}</ref> Zimmer described himself as "devastated" in the aftermath of the [[2012 Aurora, Colorado shooting]], which occurred at a screening of ''The Dark Knight Rises:'' "I just feel so incredibly sad for these people." He recorded a track entitled "Aurora", a choral arrangement of a theme from the [[The Dark Knight Rises (soundtrack)|''Dark Knight Rises'' soundtrack]], to raise money for the victims of the shooting.<ref name="aurora">{{cite web
| url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1690681/hans-zimmer-dark-knight-rises-composer-aurora-song.jhtml
| title = 'Dark Knight Rises' Composer Dedicates New Song To Aurora Victims
| publisher = MTV
| date = 27 July 2012
| access-date = 27 July 2012
| archive-date = 29 July 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120729221329/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1690681/hans-zimmer-dark-knight-rises-composer-aurora-song.jhtml
| url-status = dead
}}</ref>

=== 2012–present ===
Zimmer co-composed the music for the television series ''[[The Bible (TV series)|The Bible]]'', which was broadcast in March 2013, with [[Lorne Balfe]] and [[Lisa Gerrard]], and the score for ''[[12 Years a Slave (film)|12 Years a Slave]]'', which won the [[86th Academy Awards|Academy Award]] for Best Picture in March 2014. Zimmer composed the ''Tomorrowland Hymn'' for the [[Tomorrowland (festival)|Tomorrowland]] festival to celebrate its tenth anniversary in July 2014.<ref name="tomorrowland">{{cite web
| url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/earshot/hans-zimmer-composes-tomorrowland-theme-696685
| title = Hans Zimmer Composes Theme Music to EDM Festival Tomorrowland
| website = [[The Hollywood Reporter]]
| date = 16 April 2014
| access-date = 17 April 2014
| archive-date = 4 November 2020
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201104220131/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/earshot/hans-zimmer-composes-tomorrowland-theme-696685
| url-status = live
}}</ref>

Zimmer composed the music for the 2014 film ''[[The Amazing Spider-Man 2]]'' alongside "The Magnificent Six", which consisted of [[Pharrell Williams]], [[Johnny Marr]], [[Michael Einziger]], [[Tom Holkenborg|Junkie XL]], Andrew Kawczynski, and Steve Mazzaro.<ref name="amazing_spider_man">{{cite web
| url = http://thegrio.com/2014/04/03/pharrell-composer-hans-zimmer-collaborate-on-amazing-spider-man-2-opera
| title = Pharrell, composer Hans Zimmer collaborate on 'Amazing Spider-Man 2' opera
| publisher = The Grio
| date = 3 April 2014
| access-date = 15 July 2014
| archive-date = 17 July 2014
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140717121608/http://thegrio.com/2014/04/03/pharrell-composer-hans-zimmer-collaborate-on-amazing-spider-man-2-opera/
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name="six">{{cite magazine
| url = https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/05/spiderman-pharrell-marc-webb-music
| title = How Pharrell Helped Marc Webb Give Jamie Foxx a Killer Spider-Man 2 Theme Song
| magazine = Vanity Fair
| date = 2 May 2014
| access-date = 11 October 2015
| archive-date = 12 October 2015
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151012220628/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2014/05/spiderman-pharrell-marc-webb-music
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
Zimmer composed the music for Christopher Nolan's 2014 film ''[[Interstellar (film)|Interstellar]]'', which earned him another Academy Award nomination for Best Original Score.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Gallo|first1=Phil|title=Oscars 2015: Predicting the Best Original Score Category|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/oscars/6480140/oscars-2015-best-original-score-predictions|magazine=Billboard|access-date=31 March 2016|archive-date=4 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404012659/http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/oscars/6480140/oscars-2015-best-original-score-predictions|url-status=live}}</ref> He partnered with Junkie XL to compose the music for the 2016 film ''[[Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice]]''. In an interview with BBC News in March 2016, Zimmer said that he was retiring from composing the music for [[superhero films]], saying of ''Batman v Superman'': "This one was very hard for me to do, to try to find new language".<ref>{{cite news
| url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35925151
| title = Hans Zimmer retiring from scoring superhero films after Batman v Superman
| work = BBC News
| access-date = 1 April 2016
| archive-date = 1 April 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160401031041/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-35925151
| url-status = live
}}</ref>

Zimmer composed the main theme for the 2016 BBC nature documentary ''[[Planet Earth II]]'', presented by [[David Attenborough]]. He later composed the score for the 2017 BBC nature documentary ''[[Blue Planet II]]'' alongside Jacob Shea and David Fleming, also presented by David Attenborough.<ref name="planet_earth_2">{{cite web | url = http://filmmusicreporter.com/2016/10/26/planet-earth-ii-soundtrack-details/ | title = 'Planet Earth II' Soundtrack Details | access-date = 13 November 2016 | archive-date = 13 August 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180813111438/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2016/10/26/planet-earth-ii-soundtrack-details/ | url-status = live}}</ref><ref name="blue_planet_2">{{cite web | url=http://www.hans-zimmer.com/index.php?rub=disco&id=1602 | title='Blue Planet II' Soundtrack| access-date = 8 April 2020}}</ref> In an interview with [[Kirsty Wark]] on BBC Radio, Zimmer said in October 2022: "I think the only work that I've done that's worth anything is working for Sir David Attenborough on those programmes, because it's the only thing that actually means something to this world and ultimately might have an impact on how we approach this world."<ref>{{cite news |title=The World At One |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001cq7t |access-date=8 October 2022 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

Zimmer composed the main theme for the 2016 [[Netflix]] production ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]''.<ref name="The Crown">{{cite web | url = http://www.hans-zimmer.com/index.php?rub=disco&id=1530 | title = The Crown Soundtrack Details | access-date = 15 December 2016 | archive-date = 20 December 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161220165227/http://www.hans-zimmer.com/index.php?rub=disco&id=1530 | url-status = live}}</ref> Also in 2016 Zimmer released an online course teaching the basics of film scoring.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/hans-zimmer-film-scoring-online-course-1201922004/|title=Hans Zimmer Launches Online Course in Film Scoring|date=18 November 2016|work=Variety|access-date=22 February 2018|archive-date=6 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306053720/http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/hans-zimmer-film-scoring-online-course-1201922004/|url-status=live}}</ref> He next composed the score for Christopher Nolan's 2017 film ''[[Dunkirk (2017 film)|Dunkirk]]'', basing part of the score on a recording of a ticking watch that he had been given by Nolan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://businessinsider.com/christopher-nolan-dunkirk-interview-2017-7|title=Christopher Nolan explains the biggest challenges in making his latest movie 'Dunkirk' into an 'intimate epic'|first=Jason|last=Guerrasio|date=11 July 2017|website=[[Business Insider]]|archive-date=12 July 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20170712105412/http://www.businessinsider.com/christopher-nolan-dunkirk-interview-2017-7|url-status=live}}</ref> Zimmer also worked on the score for [[Denis Villeneuve]]'s ''[[Blade Runner 2049]]''. Hans Zimmer and co-composer [[Benjamin Wallfisch]] took over scoring duties after [[Jóhann Jóhannsson]] left the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2017/07/hans-zimmer-composing-blade-runner-2049-report-1201861912/|title=Hans Zimmer Taking Over as Composer for 'Blade Runner 2049' — Report {{!}} IndieWire|last=Dry|first=Jude|website=www.indiewire.com|date=31 July 2017|access-date=17 October 2017}}</ref>

In 2018, Zimmer composed the score for the new [[FIFA Anthem]], called "Living Football" in reference to the new motto of FIFA,<ref>{{cite web |title=FIFA's new claim: "Living Football" – FIFA.com |url=https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/videos/fifa-s-new-claim-living-football |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822054721/https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/who-we-are/videos/fifa-s-new-claim-living-football |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 August 2019 |website=www.fifa.com}}</ref> "Living Football" was also used as television intro theme for the [[2018 FIFA World Cup]] in Russia.<ref name="FIFA">{{cite web|url= https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/y=2018/m=6/video=2018-fifa-world-cup-russiatm-official-tv-opening.html/|title= 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia – Official TV Opening|date= 1 June 2018|access-date= 2 June 2018|archive-date= 5 June 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180605131829/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/y=2018/m=6/video=2018-fifa-world-cup-russiatm-official-tv-opening.html|url-status= dead}}</ref> Also in 2018, Zimmer remixed the [[UEFA Champions League Anthem]] with rapper [[Vince Staples]] for EA Sports' [[FIFA (video game series)|''FIFA'']] video game ''[[FIFA 19]]'', with it also featuring in the game's reveal trailer.<ref>{{cite web|title=Behind the Music: Champions League Anthem Remix with Hans Zimmer|url=https://www.easports.com/fifa/news/2018/hans-zimmer-champions-league-remix|publisher=[[Electronic Arts]]|date=12 June 2018|access-date=20 July 2018|archive-date=30 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030134335/https://www.easports.com/fifa/news/2018/hans-zimmer-champions-league-remix|url-status=live}}</ref> Zimmer composed the score for ''[[Dark Phoenix (film)|Dark Phoenix]]'', directed by [[Simon Kinberg]], contrary to his 2016 statements of not scoring another superhero film following his experience working on ''Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2016/03/30/hans-zimmer-retiring-superhero-films/|title=Hans Zimmer retiring from scoring superhero films after Batman v Superman|last=Towers|first=Andrea|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=30 March 2016|access-date=25 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126185557/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/03/30/hans-zimmer-retiring-superhero-films/|archive-date=26 January 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, he scored the [[The Lion King (2019 film)|photorealistic animated remake]] of Disney's ''[[The Lion King]]'', directed by [[Jon Favreau]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://screenrant.com/disney-lion-king-hans-zimmer-composer/ | title=Hans Zimmer Set to Score Disney's Live-Action The Lion King | first=Cooper | last=Hood | date=1 November 2017 | website=[[Screen Rant]] | access-date=3 February 2018 | archive-date=7 January 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107080821/https://screenrant.com/disney-lion-king-hans-zimmer-composer/ | url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2018, Zimmer was announced as the composer for ''[[Wonder Woman 1984]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hans Zimmer to Score Patty Jenkins' ''Wonder Woman 1984''|url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2018/08/22/hans-zimmer-to-score-patty-jenkins-wonder-woman-1984/|work=Film Music Reporter|access-date=2 January 2019|archive-date=2 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002023825/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2018/08/22/hans-zimmer-to-score-patty-jenkins-wonder-woman-1984/|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2019, it was announced that Zimmer would be scoring [[Denis Villeneuve]]'s ''[[Dune (2021 film)|Dune]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hans Zimmer to Score Denis Villeneuve's ''Dune'' {{!}} Film Music Reporter |url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2019/03/18/hans-zimmer-to-score-denis-villeneuves-dune/ |access-date=1 July 2019 |date=18 March 2019 |archive-date=30 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630010509/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2019/03/18/hans-zimmer-to-score-denis-villeneuves-dune/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In June 2019, Zimmer was hired to create sounds for [[BMW M|BMW]]'s concept vehicle, the [[BMW M1#Vision M Next concept|Vision M Next]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hans Zimmer designed the sound for BMW's futuristic concept car|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/29/19914287/bmw-hans-zimmer-design-bmw-vision-m-next-sound-profile-blade-runner-cyberpunk-3d-print|website=[[The Verge]]|last=Liptak|first=Andrew|access-date=26 July 2019|date=29 June 2019|archive-date=27 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727023908/https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/29/19914287/bmw-hans-zimmer-design-bmw-vision-m-next-sound-profile-blade-runner-cyberpunk-3d-print|url-status=live}}</ref> He produced and composed [[Electric vehicle warning sounds|warning sounds]] for the electric car line. These sounds are both for those on the interior and on the exterior, and could help warn pedestrians that an electric car is approaching.<ref name="Nast 2020">{{cite magazine |last=Berk |first=Brett |publisher=Condé Nast |title=BMW's i4 Electric Concept Comes With a Hans Zimmer Score |magazine=WIRED |date=28 March 2020 |url=https://www.wired.com/story/bmw-i4-electric-score-hans-zimmer/ |access-date=5 December 2022}}</ref><ref name="BMW.com 2022">{{cite web |last=Löblein |first=Markus |title=This is how BMW composes the sound of e-mobility |website=BMW.com |date=5 January 2022 |url=https://www.bmw.com/en/magazine/innovation/hans-zimmer-individual-drive-sounds-as-identity-for-electric-vehicles.html |access-date=5 December 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Hans Zimmer in 2022.jpg|thumb|Zimmer and the [[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]] at the [[Royal Albert Hall]] in London in October 2022 during ''The Sound of 007 in Concert'']]
On 6 January 2020, took over as composer for the ''[[James Bond]]'' film ''[[No Time to Die]]'' after previous composer [[Dan Romer]] left the project.<ref>{{cite web|title='No Time to Die': Hans Zimmer Takes Over as Composer on Bond Movie (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/hans-zimmer-james-bond-composer-no-time-to-die-1203458908/|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|last=Burlingame|first=Jon|access-date=7 January 2020|date=6 January 2020|archive-date=13 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200113231624/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/hans-zimmer-james-bond-composer-no-time-to-die-1203458908/|url-status=live}}</ref> Speaking on scoring for ''No Time to Die'', Zimmer told ''[[The Hindu]]'', "Having done the three ''Batman'' movies—which are three movies to you but are 12 years of my life to me—I really understand where [[Daniel Craig|Daniel [Craig]]] was with this; he dedicated 16 years of his life to Bond... I wanted to not only do a good score but dig a little deeper and honour the man, the work and all the people who've been working on this for so long".<ref>{{cite news |last=Bhavani |first=Divya-Kala |date=21 October 2021 |title=Composer Hans Zimmer on the musical worlds of 'Dune' and 'No Time To Die' |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/interview-composer-hans-zimmer-2021-on-unusual-musical-worlds-in-dune-james-bond-no-time-to-die/article37084715.ece}}</ref>

On 26 February 2020, [[Major League Soccer]] released an anthem for its [[2020 Major League Soccer season|25th season]], which was composed by Zimmer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/02/26/watch-mls-releases-new-anthem-25th-season-composed-hans-zimmer|title=Watch: MLS releases new anthem for 25th season, composed by Hans Zimmer|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226213504/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2020/02/26/watch-mls-releases-new-anthem-25th-season-composed-hans-zimmer|archive-date=26 February 2020}}</ref> In March 2020, Zimmer composed the score for ''[[Hillbilly Elegy (film)|Hillbilly Elegy]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://filmmusicreporter.com/2020/03/10/hans-zimmer-to-reteam-with-ron-howard-on-hillbilly-elegy/|title=Hans Zimmer to Reteam with Ron Howard on Hillbilly Elegy|website=FilmMusicReporter|date=10 March 2020|access-date=11 March 2020|archive-date=11 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611221251/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2020/03/10/hans-zimmer-to-reteam-with-ron-howard-on-hillbilly-elegy/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2022, he collaborated with [[Camila Cabello]] on the song "Take Me Back Home" for the documentary series ''[[Frozen Planet II]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Camila Cabello and Hans Zimmer collaborate on new song for Frozen Planet II |url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/bbcstudios/2022/camila-cabello-and-hans-zimmer-collaborate-on-new-song-for-frozen-planet-II/ |access-date=28 September 2022 |date=22 August 2022|website=BBC}}</ref> Zimmer worked on the 2022 film ''[[Top Gun: Maverick]]'', contributing to the main title credits and other tracks.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Tangcay |first1=Jon Burlingame,Jazz |last2=Burlingame |first2=Jon |last3=Tangcay |first3=Jazz |date=26 May 2022 |title=Inside the Messy Music of 'Top Gun: Maverick': Lady Gaga Gets First Scoring Credit, but Song Selection Goes Sideways |url=https://variety.com/2022/artisans/news/top-gun-maverick-music-lady-gaga-score-soundtrack-1235278544/ |access-date=15 February 2024 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 August 2023 |title=Composer Hans Zimmer Sat On His Secretlab Batman Chair To Score 'Dune' And 'Top Gun: Maverick' |url=https://geekculture.co/hans-zimmer-secretlab/ |access-date=15 February 2024 |website=Geek Culture}}</ref>

Zimmer composed the score for the film ''[[Dune (2021 film)|Dune]]'' (2021), which earned him his second [[Academy Award for Best Original Score]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Desowitz|first=Bill|date=20 October 2021|title='Dune': How Composer Hans Zimmer Invented a Retro-Future Musical Sound for the Arrakis Desert Planet|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/10/dune-hans-zimmer-score-1234673017/|access-date=14 February 2022|website=IndieWire}}</ref>  The [[Music of Dune (2021 film)|film's music]] was released in several different volumes. He composed the score for the [[Dune: Part Two|sequel]], released in 2024. {{As of|2024}}, Zimmer has begun writing music for a potential third ''Dune'' film while Villeneuve has started on the film's script.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Zee |first1=Jazz Tangcay,Michaela |last2=Tangcay |first2=Jazz |last3=Zee |first3=Michaela |date=29 February 2024 |title='Dune 2': Hans Zimmer Talks Composing Paul and Chani's Love Theme, Co-Writing Gurney's Song With Josh Brolin and Prepping for 'Messiah' |url=https://variety.com/2024/artisans/news/dune-2-hans-zimmer-paul-chani-love-theme-gurneys-song-1235924690/ |access-date=1 March 2024 |website=Variety|archive-date=1 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301015527/https://variety.com/2024/artisans/news/dune-2-hans-zimmer-paul-chani-love-theme-gurneys-song-1235924690/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During the [[2024 Austrian Grand Prix]], Zimmer announced he will be scoring ''[[F1 (film)|F1]]'', a film starring [[Brad Pitt]] and directed by [[Joseph Kosinski]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Lindén|first=Christoffer |title=Hans Zimmer to score upcoming F1 film |url=https://x.com/F1Christoffer/status/1807108723443126437 |website=X, formerly Twitter |date=5 July 2024 |access-date=5 July 2024}}</ref>